English: The Byzantine Empire or Byzantium (native Greek name: Βασιλεία των Ῥωμαίων - Basileia tōn Rōmaiōn) is the term conventionally used since the 19th century to describe the Greek-speaking Roman Empire of the Middle Ages, centered around its capital of Constantinople. In certain specific contexts, usually referring to the time before the fall of the Western Roman Empire, it is also often referred to as the Eastern Roman Empire.